BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to pro rata calculation of temporary assistance for needy families grants; amending RCW 74.08A.260; adding a new section to chapter 74.08A RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.08A RCW to read as follows:

(1) A recipient's grant amount for any month shall reflect the recipient's participation in any required work activity. The grant amount shall be decreased, pro rata, for the time the recipient fails to perform during the prior month the number of work units or work activity units required by the department under P.L. 104-193 and this chapter. If a recipient refuses to engage in work and work activities required by the department, and if the department determines it appropriate, the family's grant may be terminated.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a recipient if the department finds that the recipient failed to meet the required number of work activity units for good cause. Good cause shall include, but not be limited to, illness or injury of the recipient or of a person dependent on the recipient, temporary unavailability of child care and any accessible alternatives, and the situations listed in RCW 74.08A.270.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The department of social and health services shall study and report on: (1) The practical application and fiscal impact of adopting the pro rata calculation of grants provided in section 1 of this act; (2) appropriate good cause exceptions; and (3) methods and rules for preventing abuse of the exceptions. The department shall report its findings to the house of representatives children and family services committee and to the senate human services and corrections committee by November 30, 1998.

Sec. 3. RCW 74.08A.260 and 1997 c 58 s 313 are each amended to read as follows:

Recipients who have not obtained paid, unsubsidized employment by the end of the job search component authorized in section 312 of this act shall be referred to a work activity.

(1) Each recipient shall be assessed immediately upon completion of the job search component. Assessments shall be based upon factors that are critical to obtaining employment, including but not limited to education, employment strengths, and employment history. Assessments may be performed by the department or by a contracted entity. The assessment shall be based on a uniform, consistent, transferable format that will be accepted by all agencies and organizations serving the recipient. Based on the assessment, an individual responsibility plan shall be prepared that: (a) Sets forth an employment goal and a plan for moving the recipient immediately into employment; (b) contains the obligation of the recipient to become and remain employed; (c) moves the recipient into whatever employment the recipient is capable of handling as quickly as possible; and (d) describes the services available to the recipient to enable the recipient to obtain and keep employment.

(2) Recipients who are not engaged in work and work activities, and do not qualify for a good cause exemption under RCW 74.08A.270, shall engage in self‑directed service as provided in RCW 74.08A.330.

(3) ((If a recipient refuses to engage in work and work activities required by the department, the family's grant shall be reduced by the recipient's share, and may, if the department determines it appropriate, be terminated.

~~(4) The department may waive the penalties required under subsection (3) of this section, subject to a finding that the recipient refused to engage in work for good cause provided in RCW 74.08A.270.~~

~~(5)~~)) In implementing this section, the department shall assign the highest priority to the most employable clients, including adults in two-parent families and parents in single-parent families that include older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in work activities.

((~~(6)~~)) (4) In consultation with the recipient, the department or contractor shall place the recipient into a work activity that is available in the local area where the recipient resides.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department of social and health services shall comply with section 1 of this act by July 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Section 3 of this act takes effect July 1, 1999.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.